Where does Ohio’s electricity come from?

In Ohio, the majority of our electricity is generated using nonrenewable resources like coal, natural gas, nuclear and petroleum. While these resources are found naturally in the earth and produce large amounts of electricity, nonrenewable resources take a long time to form, and there is a limited supply available for people to use for power generation.

Renewable resources including hydropower, wind, biomass and solar energy are also used to produce electricity, but often on a smaller scale. These resources are readily available in nature and can be replenished relatively quickly.

The PUCO supports a mix of generation resources in order to minimize the risks, including price spikes, associated with an exclusive reliance on any one type of electric generation. Below are brief descriptions of the generation resources currently used in Ohio.

Ohio generation output 2013

Source: EIA Jan-Dec'1

Coal, a nonrenewable fossil fuel, is used to generate 69.7 percent of the electricity in Ohio. Coal is burned to produce heat, which converts water into high-pressure steam. The steam turns the blades of a turbine that is connected to a generator. The generator spins and converts mechanical energy to electricity.

Natural gas, a nonrenewable fossil fuel, can either be burned to produce steam or to produce hot combustion gas that passes through the turbine blades. Approximately 15.56 percent of the electricity in Ohio is produced using natural gas and other gases.

Petroleum, a nonrenewable fossil fuel, is burned to create steam to turn the turbine blades. The most common form of petroleum used to make electricity is fuel oil, a type of oil that is refined from crude oil. Petroleum generates approximately one percent of Ohio electricity.

Nuclear power involves a process called fission in which the atoms of the element uranium split, releasing heat to turn water into steam and rotate the turbine blades. Nuclear power is nonrenewable and is used to generate about 11.76 percent of Ohio electricity.

In hydropower generation, flowing water is used to spin the turbine connected to the generator. Hydropower plants can use the current from a river or falling water that has accumulated in a dam to create the force needed to turn the turbine blades.

Wind turbinesharness the force of the natural wind to turn the generator turbine.

Solar power uses photovoltaic cells to harness the energy of the sun to produce energy.

Geothermal energy involves the heat buried beneath the surface of the earth. This heat transforms water into steam, which is then tapped to be used at steam-turbine plants.

Biomass energy resources include wood and wood wastes, landfill gas, biogas from food processing waste, animal waste, sewage sludge, and potential energy crops. The Ohio Biomass Energy Program (OBEP) works to promote the use of biomass in Ohio.

Hydro and Other

19 landfill gas projects of which nine generate electricity for a total capacity of 50 MW

Biomass generation using waste residue to generate heat and power onsite in the wood manufacturing and paper industries

Ohio’s renewable energy portfolio standard

Ohio law contains an alternative energy portfolio standard that requires that 12.5 percent of electricity sold by Ohio’s electric distribution utilities or electric services companies must be generated from renewable energy sources by 2027

The law sets annual benchmarks, or incremental percentage requirements for renewable energy, through 2027. Each utility and electric services company is subject to compliance payments if the annual benchmarks are not met. Utilities and electric services companies may purchase renewable energy credits to meet the renewable energy standard.